Recreational Opportunities

Bicycling off-road is available at Noanet Woodlands and Hale Reservation. It is not permitted on the Wylde Woods property. Please check their websites for detailed information.

Boat Landings for access to the Charles River are located on Riverside Drive off of Claybrook Road under the management of the Parks and Recreation Department, and on Bridge Street under the management of the Conservation Commission. Starting at the bridge on the Dover/Sherborn line, the boundary of the Bridge Street property managed by the Conservation Commission runs for nearly 400 feet along the Charles River and 380 feet along Bridge Street. It is an excellent place to launch a canoe in the river. Parking is limited.

Dog Walking is allowed at some of the open space properties in Dover. It is not permitted at Caryl Park. In all cases it is expected that dog owners will have control of their pet. Please check the individual property websites listed on this page for details.

Fishing can be done from various access points to the Charles River, at Channing Pond off of Springdale Avenue, and at Hale Reservation. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires a fishing license for fishing in the Charles River. This can be obtained at the Dover Town Clerk’s officeand at various retail outlets.

Open Space for Walking in Dover

Address/Parking

Description

595 acres, 17 miles of trails. Moderate hiking, strenuous in places. Follow a network of trail across a grand preserve that features woodlands and ponds, a former mill site, and Noanet Peak, which offers views of the Boston skyline. Trails connect to Larrabee Estate (67 acres, Town of Dover) and Hale Reservation (1200 acres).

39 Powisset Street, park immediately on your left along the side of the barn.

109 acres, an easy loop trail, less than a mile long extends beyond the farmstead past woodlands and wetlands before returning to the barnyard. A trail spurs lead into adjacent 1,200-acre Hale Reservation and Noanet Woodlands (595 acres) as well as Town of Dover (33 acres). Revived as the site of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, this farm features a trail that explores woodlands, fields, and wetlands.

85 acres, 2.5 miles of trails, including a trail extension links to Peters Reservation via a road crossing on Farm Street. The regional Charles River Link Trail passes through. Easy walking. Follow meandering trails through a forest of pine, beech, and hemlock and enjoy what was once a family’s cherished preserve.

97 acres, 2.5 miles of trails. A delightful paddling destination, this riverside retreat features a mix of natural flora, designed landscape and plantings. The trails and some understory plantings here were laid out by leading landscape architect Fletcher Steele.

Sassamon Road, South Natick Trail System begins at the end of the road.

33 acres. Surrounded by stone walls, this hardwood forest has a good system of trails. This abuts other protected land owned by Massachusetts Audubon and is in close proximity to The Trustees of Reservations’ Pegan Hill (32 acres). The Charles River Link Trail passes through.

Dover Land Conservation Trust (DLCT)

Snow Hill

Pine Street, about a mile south of Centre Street

110 acres, with open walking access. The access road off Pine Street is marked ”Ralph McAllister Fire Tower ” on the right side of Pine Street. Trails connect with the Town of Dover’s Snow Hill (60 acres) to make a lengthy network.

83 acre parcel of land, donated to the Town of Dover by George E. Chickering in 1917, designated as a Public Park forever, and to be used for Recreational use. Includes walking trails (no dogs permitted) linked to Noanet Woodlands (TTOR) as well as tot lot, tennis & basketball courts, playing fields and the Caryl House, managed by the Dover Historical Society. For more information visit the Parks and Recreation Website.

Riverside Boat Landing

End of Riverside Drive off of Claybrook Road

The landing is open only to Dover residents with a residential parking sticker. Stickers may be purchased for $10 per car at the Park and Recreation office.

Channing Pond

Springdale Avenue

Fishing, including a derby, and ice skating, in winter. For information visit the website.

Other Open Spaces

Hale Reservation

80 Carby Street, Westwood, MA parking available.

Consists of about 1200 acres, 625 in Dover and 575 in Westwood, that abut Noanet Woodlands (595 acres). An extensive trail network interconnects with Noanet Woodlands and the Larrabee Estate (67 acres, Town of Dover). Many swimming, camp & other opportunities for families and children.

Enters Dover from Needham at the Charles River Bridge, joins the Bay Circuit Trail at Hospital Road, Medfield

16-mile regional trail along one of the most scenic parts of the Charles and provides a connection between the Bay Circuit Trail in Medfield and Newton. This diverse and spectacular suburban trail, opened in June of 2009, connects 24 open space jewels in six towns – Newton, Wellesley, Needham, Natick, Dover and Medfield.